Document-case or record-cabinet



(No Model.)

J. 0. LANG.

DOCUMENT CASE OE'REOORD CABINET, &c. N0.-359,451.

Patented Mar. 15, 1887.

M UNITED STATES:

PATENT FFICE.

JOHN C. LANG, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO LOVASSFIELD, OF ROCHESTER, NEYV YORK.

DOCUMENT-CASE OR- RECORD-CABINET, 8:.0.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 3 9, dated rchApplication filed March 22, lit-'83. Serial No. 89,127. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, JOHN G. LANG, a citizen of the United States,residing at \Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Filing Cases or Cabinets, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of cases or cabinets in whichdrawers, trays, or like receptacles are arranged to slide horizontallyinto and out of the case or cabinet proper; and it is the aim of theinvention to provide a simple construction by which said trays, whendrawn forward from the cabinet, may be automatically arrested andsupported in such position as to permit convenient examination of thecontents.

To this end the invention consists, essen tially, in providing thecabinet and the tray at the top and bottom with stops or shouldersarranged to engage directly with corresponding stops or shoulders in thecabinet, as hereinafter more fully explained.

I am aware that file-boxes have been arranged to tip forward about theirlower forward corners as a fulcrum, and without the sliding motion; alsothat trays and drawers have been pivoted to the forward ends ofhorizontal slides mounted in a case or cabinet; but I believe myself tobe the first to provide stops or supporting devices by which ahorizontally-sliding tray may be engaged directly with the case orcabinet, both at the top and bottom, in such manner that when withdrawnfrom the cabinet it is supported by direct engagement therewith.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents in perspective aportion of the case or cabinet constructed on my plan, one of the traysbeing shown in its outer position. Fig.

' 2 represents a vertical longitudinal section through a portion of thecabinet with the trays in their closed position. Fig. 3 is a similarView showing one of the trays in its extended or projected position.Fig. 4 is a top plan View of one of the trays, showing the device forconfining the papers therein.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the case or cabinet, which maybe constructed in front, below the tray,with a stop or shoulder,

1), preferably in the form of a transverse rod, as shown. I furtherprovide the tray B, at its rear end, with top shoulders or stops, 0,which may consist, as shown, of metal straps attach ed thereto and bentupward at their rear ends. Above the tray, at the front of the cabinet,I provide a stationary stop or shoulder to encounter the shoulder c. Therod 1), which serves as the under stop for one tray, may'be used as theupper stop for the next tray below, as shown in the drawings.

The operation is as follows: The tray being drawn forward slides bodilyfrom the cabinet until its under shoulder, a, encounters the stop orshoulder 12, the effect of which is to arrest the outward movement andprevent the disconnection of the tray from the cabinet. If, now, thefront of the tray is re1eased,it will fall by gravity until its uppershoulder, 0, encounters the upper stop or shoulder, b,whereupon the trayis arrested and supported in its projected position, as shown in Fig. 3.i

It will be observed that under my system the tray is engaged directlywith the cabinet above at its upper and its lower edges, and thussupported firmly in position without the employment of intermediateparts. I commonly curve the upper rear corners of the tray, as shown inthe drawings; but it will be manifest to those familiar with the artthat if the parts are properly proportioned this ourvature will beunnecessary. If it be required to detach a tray from the cabinet, it isonly necessary to raise its front end. slightly from the position shownin Fig. 3, and then lift the rear end bodily until the stop or shouldera is clear of the stop b, whereupon the tray may be withdrawn from thecabinet.

The essence of the invention resides in providing the tray withstopshoulders, both at the top and bottom, adapted to interlock with 50any appropriate manner, with horizontal cells corresponding stops orshoulders on the cabrco inet, and it will be manifest to the skilledmechanic that the form of the parts may be essentially modified withoutchanging their mode of action'or departing from the limits of myinvention.

In order to confine papers or similar articles within the tray, Iproposeto employ the press lire-plate or follower C, hinged or jointed at oneend to a leaf, D, which is in turn jointed to the front of the tray,this construction pen mitting the leaf 1) to be turned into and out ofposition at will. To secure it firmly in place, I provide the lockingdevice, consisting simply of a wire, E, bent into approximately the formof the letter U, its two extremities being fastened to the leaf, and itstwo corners projected outward loosely beneath guides or straps d, so asto bear against the inner walls of the tray. On pressing the middleportion of this wire in the direction indicated by the arrow it is drawninward from the walls of the tray, thus releasing the leaf or follower.

I recommend the application of rubber or similar cushions F to thelocking-wire, for the purpose of giving firm engagement with the tray.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In combinationwith an inclosing case or cabinet, a sliding and tilting tray adapted tofall to an inclined position when partly withdrawn, and to interlockwhen thus tilted directly with the case, substantially as described,

and a stop, substantially as shown, to arrest the sliding movement ofthe tray when withdrawn to the proper position for tilting.

2. In combination with an inclosing ease or cabinet, a sliding andtilting tray mounted therein and sustained directly thereby, said trayprovided with a shoulder or stop to limit its outward sliding motion,and adapted, as described, to drop to an inclined position and interlockdirectly with the cabinet.

3. In combination with the sliding trays or drawers provided with stopsat the top and bottom, the receiving-cabinet provided with the front rodlying between the trays and serving as an under stop for one and anupper stop for the next, as described.

4. In combination with the cabinet having stops at its front atdifferent heights, the intermediate sliding tray having the under stopat a distance from the rear end, and the upper stops on the rear roundedcorners, as shown.

5. In combination with the tray or drawer, the internal leaf or followerjointed thereto, and the fasteningwire of substantially U form appliedthereto, substantially as described.

in testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN C. LANG.

W'itnesses:

L. C. Youxc, WM. M. SMITH.

